Offset printing press



July as, 1936. H. mum ET AL 2,049,257

OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Filed Oct. '7, 1935 INVENTORS:

M m I By Attorney.

Patented July 28, 1936 Mrs!) STATES PATENT OFFICE OFFSET PRINTING PRESS Herman Gould, Brooklyn, and Frank Ackerman, New York, N. Y.

The present invention relates to a means for and the method of printing upon or ornamenting objects of various kinds and aims to provide certain improvements therein. More particularly it relates to the art of applying by a transfer method from, rigid type, dies, electrotypes, etc., printed matter, decorations, designs, monograms, emblems, insignia and the like upon plane or curved surfaces of rigid or somewhat deformable articles or objects regardless of the material of which such objects are made.

The primary object of our invention is to provide a simple and economical means and method of printing upon or ornamenting objects having curved or non-planar, rigid or somewhat deformable surfaces, for example, articles of glassware, china, vanity cases, umbrella handles, rubber balls and the like. A further object is to provide a device of the character specified wherein the type, die; electrotype or the like containing the matter to be imprinted can be readily removed from and replaced in the device so that a single impression may be transferred to an article or as-many of the same or different impressions as desired may be applied to a plurality of similar or diflferent articles. A further object is to provide a portable device of the character specified wherein the transfer element in its operative transferring position is disposed'in a manner to facilitate the transfer of the matter to be printed to the articles where such articles are relatively small and can be easily brought into cooperative relation with the transfer means; also where said transfer means is readily bodily removable from the device to permit the transfer or application of the desired matter to objects which cannot be convenole are brought into proper contacting relation.

In other words, our invention resides in a sense in converting an ordinary printing press into an offset printing press wherein the offset transfer pad after each inkingis brought to rest'in a preferably substantially horizontal position to facilitate application thereto of the article onto which the impression is to be transferred. We also preferably mount the transfer pad so as to be readily removable from and replaceable in the platen frame to permit the manual application of the transfer pad onto the article which is to receive the matter to be imprinted and which cannot conveniently be applied to the transfer pad. The invention will be better understood from the detailed description which follows when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable printing press embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the platen frame and transfer pad when disposed in substantially horizontal position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the platen frame and transfer pad shown in Fig. 2 and its cooperative connections with other parts of the press.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the transfer pad and its support removed from the platen frame. Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner of applying the transfer pad, after its removal from the press, to an article upon which the matter to be printed is to be transferred.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, the portable printing press disclosed therein may be of any type and as shown comprises a base ill having mounted thereon a block ll having a pair of upstanding ears I2 through which extend a pivot pin I3. Also mounted on the base In is a substantially vertical frame [4 adapted to support on its front face printing means l5 which may be in the nature of type, dies, electrotype or the like held within a suitable chase i6. Supported by the frame I4 is an inking disk I 1 adapted to supply ink to a pair of inking rolls I 8 which 1 are supported by a pair of carriers l9 (only one of which is shown) which are pivotally mounted as at 20 to move the inking rolls over the disk H to take up ink therefrom and then down over a pair of rails 2| on the front of the frame I d to apply said ink over the surface of the printing means l5 mounted in the frame.

' 'Pivotally mounted on the pin I 3 is a platen frame 22 having an operating handle 23 and an open boxlike socket 22a defined by pairs of parallel walls 22b and 220. Mounted within the platen frame socket 22a is an elastic transfer pad 24 formed of gelatin, rubber or other elastic material having a top surface adapted to receive an ink impression from the printing means l5 when brought into contact therewith.

The transfer pad 24 is mounted in and projects opposite ends is provided with outwardly extending alined pins 25 which terminate in engaging handles 26. The lateral side walls 221) of the platen frame socket are each formed with a bayonet slot 27 having a horizontal component and a vertical component which latter extends to the top of said Walls for accommodating the pins 25 of the transfer pad support. Preferably the transfer pad. support is. formed of a width to'snugly is adapted to be held in place Within said platen H frame socket by the pins 25 engagingand' being held in the ends of the horizontal components of said bayonet slots by a tension leaf springing or the like mountedfor flexing actionagainst the rear wall 220. of the platen frame socket. -It will 1 thus be seen that by compressing the spring 2 j by the transfer pad support 2 ia, the latter can be quickly inserted into and removed from the platen frame socket. Y r r a Pivotally connected to both'the platen frame forwardly of the pivot pin l3 and the rolls 'carriers i9 forwardly of the pivotpinflil are a pair of links 36 which when the platen is moved out of and into engagement with the printing means l5 moves the inking rolls l8 over the inking disk and over the surface of saidprinting means re-' spectively toapply ink-from said inking disk to said printing means. For limiting the degree of engagement of the'transfer pad with the printing means $25 so as to'insure aproper impression being obtained on the transfer'pad 24 from the printing means, the platen frame 'is;provided with 7 adjustable screws 35" at one end thereof for contacting withfthe rails 'zi of the'frame M.

In the operation of the devicelriositive face printing meanslfi are mounted inthe chase l6 within the'frame l 4",the transfer pad-24 is-mounted in the platen frame socket 22a'and the ad?- juSting" screws 3| are set to obtain a proper negative impression on the transfer-pad from'the printing-means i5. As herein shown the printing rneansis in the form of a die bearing the letter G within a circle; The disk I! carries ink or an ink base whichQas the platen frame is moved about its pivot c'auses'the inking rolls i8 to take ink from the disk and apply it overthe surface.

of the die l5. When the die is properly inked a negative impression therefrom will'be-obtained on the surface of 'thetransfer pad 24 as shown in Fig. 2 upon moving the transfer pad into and out of engagement with the die. Where it is. de-

sired to transfer this impression to a small object, such object maybe pressed into engagement with the inked negative impression on the pad 2a to receive a positive impression thereof while the transfer pad is in its substantially horizontal or rest position- If the article has a round or spherical surface, for example, a salt cellar with a conicalvvall asshown in dotted lines inFig. 2, it may be rolled into contact, withthe surface of the pad Z l. which being elastic will yield sojas to transfer theimpression to such curved surface. Preferably the inking; composition employed should have a base which will adhere to "any-smooth surface and serve as an adhesive for a metallic powder which may bedusted thereover where a metallic ornamentation. is desired.

;In such case the excess powder may be brushed away after the inked base is dry and the retained I powder which will correspondwith the design or lettering impressed upon the particle may then be painted over witha transparent water-proof lac- ;ner shown in Fig. 5.

transferred to the article. Where but a single quer to insure its. permanency on the article.

Where it is desired to apply thedesign upon an article which cannot be brought into engagement with the transfer pad, the transfer pad maybe quickly bodily removed from the platen frame by grasping the handles 26 and moving'the transfer pad support against the'tension of the spring 28 to releasethe pins 25' of the pad support from the bayonet slots in the platen frame 7 socket, whereupon saiditransfer-pad may be pressed into engagement with the desired object in the man- The same procedure with regard to dusting with metallic powder and fin- 7 ishingas outlined above may then be followed.

-Where a given design or ornamentation is to be imprintedupon a plurality ofobjects it is apparent that an impression on the pad 24 can be obtainedeach time theplaten is moved into engagementwith the die and such impression then 7 impression 6f "a given character" or design is de-- sired, the type or die'can be readily removed from the press-frame and another quickly substituted in its place; I It will thus be appreciated that the invention herein disclosed readilylends itself to. appli'cationfor either special short order or repetition work and is particularly suitable for use in department stores where articlesfl of various shapes and character suchas china ware, glass ware,- umbrella handles; vanity casesfsmoking. pipes and the like can be monogrammed or other wise ornamentedfin a facile and economical 7 manner. 7

From the' foregoing detailed description it will be understood that while we have shown-and describedbut twogeneral applications of our invention and but a single mechanism for carry n out the same, we do, not wish to be limited to any spe cific use of our'method or to any particular con? struction of machine-for practicing the same since thesehave'general application and can be readily adapted to existing types of printing 'machines without departing from "the spirit of the invention as claimed. What we claim'is: 1 V 7 1. A. machine of the character described comprising a flat printing plate having readily changeable printing means, a platen frame having an elastic ftransfer pad with asubstantlally 'fiat transfer surface adapted to receive an ink impressio'rilfrom the printing means, said transfer pad being mounted in a support which is removably held by the. platen frameand cooperating means on the platen frame and the transfer pad support for. normally holdingjsaid parts in assembled relation, said means being quickly en gageable and disengage'ablefor, facilitating the application of thetransfer pad'to and its removalfrom the platen frame; 7 V

p 2. 'A machine of the character described com: prisingfprinting means, a laten frame having an elastic transfer pad adapted to receive-an ink impression from the printing means, said transfer pad being mounted in a support which is removably held'by the platen frame, a pin and bayonet slot connection between the platen frame and the transfer pad support and said'transfer pad supportihaving hand engaging portions for facilitatinglthe quick application of the transfer pad to'a'nd itsremoval from'the platen frame.

H 3. Amachine of the'character described com prising printing means, a platen frame having an elastic transfer pad adapted to receivefan ink" V impression from the printing means, saidtransfer pad beingmountedin a support which is removably held by the platen frame, the platen frame having bayonet slots in its side walls, the transfer pad support having laterally extending pins for engaging in said slots and said pins terminating in hand engaging portions for facilitating the quick application and removal of the transfer pad from the platen frame.

4. A machine of the character described comprising printing means, a platen frame, an elastic transfer pad adapted to receive an impression from the printing means, said platen frame having a socket and said transfer pad being mounted in a support which is removably held in the socket of the platen frame, a pin and slot connection between the platen frame and the transfer pad support for facilitating the quick application and removal of the transfer pad from the platen and spring means cooperating with the pin and slot connection for holding the transfer pad support within the platen frame in assembled relation.

HERMAN GOULD. FRANK ACKERMAN. 

